Occupation: Steel tycoon (used and mastered vertical integration to amass staggering wealth), and later philanthropist
Stance on Philippine Annexation: Against (Anti-Imperialist)
Carnegie believed that American Imperialism was wrong; he wanted Philippine independence, and even offered to give $20 million to the Philippines so they could pay for independence from America they same amount America had given Spain. He also thought it was wrong to force the Filipinos to become American when they were so vastly different culturally and "ignorant of our [American] language and institutions" and said "Americans cannot be grown there." He also warned against American involvement in the mad rush for territorial control over islands and areas in the Pacific near the Philippines that would most likely end up involving the Philippines themselves. Carnegie thought that, while a self-governed Philippine government may not be perfect, it is better to have a government run by their own people than by Americans.
Reasons for Interest:
Was a prominent businessman who reasoned that occupying the Philippines and governing them fairly would be a financially losing endeavor, as Spain only came out with about a $300,000 profit annually by oppressing them, especially considering the vast army and navy commitment that would be needed to maintain control
Wanted to protect American interests, economically and otherwise, from the "empire craze" and ensuing conflict resulting from the imperialism
Carnegie was turning his life away from steel and towards philanthropy, and felt that Philippine independence was the much more favorable option than controlling the country, as its people were so vastly different from Americans that it would only lead to conflict
Carnegie thought that a self-governed Philippine nation would be better for both the Philippines and America has a whole- economically, internationally, and domestically- due to the ensuing lack of conflict and avoiding the losing economic enterprise
Sources:
"American Experience: The Richest Man in the World: Andrew Carnegie." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 08 Nov. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/timeline/timeline2.html>.
Carnegie, Andrew. The Gospel of Wealth, and Other Timely Essays. New York: Century, 1900. Print.
Carnegie, Andrew. The Opportunity of the United States. N.p., 1902. Print.
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919)
Occupation: Steel tycoon (used and mastered vertical integration to amass staggering wealth), and later philanthropist
Stance on Philippine Annexation: Against (Anti-Imperialist)
Carnegie believed that American Imperialism was wrong; he wanted Philippine independence, and even offered to give $20 million to the Philippines so they could pay for independence from America they same amount America had given Spain. He also thought it was wrong to force the Filipinos to become American when they were so vastly different culturally and "ignorant of our [American] language and institutions" and said "Americans cannot be grown there." He also warned against American involvement in the mad rush for territorial control over islands and areas in the Pacific near the Philippines that would most likely end up involving the Philippines themselves. Carnegie thought that, while a self-governed Philippine government may not be perfect, it is better to have a government run by their own people than by Americans.
Reasons for Interest:
Sources:
"American Experience: The Richest Man in the World: Andrew Carnegie." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 08 Nov. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/timeline/timeline2.html>.
Carnegie, Andrew. The Gospel of Wealth, and Other Timely Essays. New York: Century, 1900. Print.
Carnegie, Andrew. The Opportunity of the United States. N.p., 1902. Print.